Recap Caucus Mtg., Mon. March 23, 2026 - Regular Mtg. of Jersey City Municipal Council

Click here for the March 25, 2026 Council Agenda

Next Caucus Meeting: Monday, April 6, 4 PM

Next Council Meeting: Wednesday, April 8, 6 PM

Caucus Meeting via Microsoft Teams Council Meeting via Microsoft Teams

2026 Municipal Council meetings, list of Councilpersons and other helpful links can be found at the bottom of this message.

Caucus meeting began at 4:06 PM and adjourned at 7:30 PM. Council President Ridley absent; all other Councilmembers present.

FIRST READING

Agenda Item 3.1 - Ordinance 26-017

An Ordinance supplementing Chapter 332 (Vehicles and Traffic) Article III (Parking, Standing and Stopping) amending Section 332-24 (Parking Prohibited Certain Hours) at PS 16 (96 Sussex Street).

Proposed at the request of parents of children zoned for PS 16, whose children are bused from PS 16 to the Danforth Avenue Early Childhood Center.

The purpose of the ordinance change is to further facilitate the safe pick-up and drop-off of schoolchildren. The recommended ordinance change will extend the hours of the existing no parking times.

Washington St (West):

School days: 7:00 am to 9:00 am AND 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Limits: Sussex St to Morris St AND Grand St to Sussex St

Agenda Item 3.2 - Ordinance 26-018

An Ordinance Amending Chapter 53 (Personnel) Article 11 (Fixed Salaries) to Modify Fixed Salaries for Certain Employees.

Through consultation with all necessary City Departments, including Departments of Finance and Law, the Mayor may elect to take a reduced salary.

For purposes of this section, in determining whether two salaries are “reasonably consistent,” the following factors may be considered, as compared between the title at issue and the same title in any other city of the First Class in the State of New Jersey: level of education; years and type of experience; prior public service; the size of the department and/or number of direct reports; the size and scope of the budget managed; and any other substantially similar factors.

SECOND READING

Agenda Item 4.1 - Ordinance 26-015

INTRODUCTION – February 25, 2026 9-0

An Ordinance of the Municipal Council of the City of Jersey City Adopting Amendments to the Powerhouse Arts District Redevelopment Plan

Adds the former firehouse located at 155 Morgan to the Rehabilitation Zone

of the Powerhouse Arts District Redevelopment Plan.

Parcel was formerly part of the R-3 district.

Residential development utilizing the density, height, and bulk standards for the R-3 district in Jersey City’s Land Development Ordinance shall be permitted at this location

, provided all other Rehabilitation Zone standards are followed and the firehouse is rehabilitated as is required by the plan.

Agenda Item 4.2 - Ordinance 26-016

INTRODUCTION – February 25, 2026 9-0

An Ordinance Supplementing Chapter 332 (Vehicles and Traffic) Article VIII (Permit Parking) Amending Section 332-58 (Parking Restrictions in Residential Zones) to establish a new permit parking Zone 20 for streets adjacent to the Liberty State Park HBLR Station east of Pacific Avenue

No person shall park a vehicle in excess of four (4) hours within Parking Zone 20 between the hours of 6:00pm and 6:00am, Monday through Saturday, except public holidays, without a valid permit

Name of Street/Limits

Ash St/

Pacific Ave to Pine St

Boltwood St/

Entire length

Communipaw Av/

Pacific Av to Johnston Av

Johnston Av/

Pacific Av to Communipaw Av

Lafayette St/

Pacific Av to Monitor St

Maple St/

Pacific Av to Monitor St

Monitor St/

Entire length

Pine St/

Entire length

Suydam Av/

Entire length

Whiton St/

Entire length

RESOLUTIONS

Agenda Item 10.9 - Res. 26-130

Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Jersey City Authorizing The Planning Board To Conduct A Preliminary Investigation Of Conditions Of Block 6901 Lots 15, 16, 17, 18.01; Block 5903 Lot 21; and Block 6001 Lots 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 13, the “Condemnation Study Area,” For Possible Designation As An Area In Need Of Redevelopment WITH The Power Of Condemnation, ANDBlock 6001 Lots 2 and 6 “the Non-Condemnation Study Area,” For Possible Designation As An Area in Need of Redevelopment WITHOUT The Power of Condemnation, Pursuant To The Local Redevelopment And Housing Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-1, Et Seq.

Christ Hospital to be studied to for designation as an area in need of redevelopment and utilize the eminent domain

The redevelopment process starts with authorization from city council then authorizes the planning board to conduct a study

Timeline unknown; Planning Department will determine if study will be done in house or outsourced

VIDEO: Director Marione discusses study and next steps

Agenda Item 10.21 - Res. 26-142

A Resolution Authorizing an Extension of, and Amendment to, an Agreement with Lyft Bikes and Scooters, LLC, for Bicycle Sharing Services

Authorizes a

temporary extension and amendment to the existing agreement with Lyft Bikes and Scooters, LLC

to ensure continuity of bicycle sharing services in Jersey City while the City and the City of Hoboken complete the bidding and award of a new bicycle sharing services contract.

2 month contract extension - $121,020

DIRECTOR APPOINTMENTS

March 16 Press Release - Mayor James Solomon Appoints Andrew Kaplan as Infrastructure Director and Removes "Acting" Designation from HEDC Director Annisia Cialone

Agenda Item 10.27 - Res. 26-148

Resolution appointing Andrew G. Kaplan as the Director of the Department of Infrastructure

VIDEO: Andy Kaplan

Agenda Item 10.28 - Res. 26-149

Resolution appointing Annisia Cialone as the Director of the Department of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce

VIDEO: Annisia Cialone

Agenda Item 10.29 - Res. 26-150

Resolution appointing Anthony Ambrose as the Director of the Department of Public Safety

VIDEO: Anthony Ambrose

SNOW STORM FAILURE REPORT

March 20 - Jersey City Releases After Action Report On January Winter Storm, Outlines Comprehensive Public Works Department Reform

The full After Action Report is available at

JCNJ.org/AAR

.

CONCLUSION (from the report):

The January 25, 2026 winter storm did not simply reveal operational gaps—it exposed the complete collapse of the Department of Public Works' snow operations capacity after a decade of systemic neglect, underinvestment, and political mismanagement.

The department attempted to execute a major snow event with:

• Leadership that had never managed a snow event • Technological systems that were not even activated or integrated • Snow route maps from the 1990s designed for a different city • No dispatch office, no clerical support, no training programs • A primary salt vendor that failed to deliver on contracts • No institutional memory of how to execute complex multi-day operations • Staff that had not received raises in 7 years • No performance evaluation or accountability systems This was not a failure of execution—this was attempting to execute with an organization that lacked the systems and protocols to succeed.

The root cause was not the storm's intensity or duration. The root cause was a decade of organizational atrophy that left DPW completely unprepared when a significant winter weather event finally occurred. Systems were antiquated, knowledge was lost, capacity was eliminated, and professional management was allowed to lapse.

Mayor Solomon Open Community Town Halls - Community meetings in each ward to address the 2026 $254M deficit listed below.

Budget Memo: Jersey City Financial Emergency Report

For more information including registration, location and virtual info, visit

JCNJ.ORG/COMMUNITYMEETINGS

Livestream info will be added to the City's Community Meeting page closer to meeting dates; available recordings of recent meetings are linked below.

Ward A - Saturday, March 7, 2026 - 11:00 AM Ward B - Tuesday, March 10, 2026 - 7:00 PM Ward C - Monday, March 16, 2026 - 7:00 PM Ward D - Wednesday, March 18, 2026 - 7:00 PM

Ward E - Friday, March 27, 2026 - 7:00 PM Ward F - Thursday, March 26, 2026 - 7:00 PM

2026 Caucus and Council Meeting Schedule

Council meetings: second and fourth Wednesdays at 6 pm, unless otherwise noted

MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

James Solomon, Mayor

Denise Ridley, Councilperson, Ward A, Council President Joel A. Brooks, Councilperson, Ward B Thomas Zuppa, Jr., Councilperson, Ward C Jake Ephros, Councilperson, Ward D Eleana Little, Councilperson, Ward E Frank E. Gilmore, Councilperson, Ward F, President Pro Tempore

Michael O. Griffin, Councilperson-at-Large Rolando R. Lavarro, Jr., Councilperson-at-Large Mamta Singh, Councilperson-at-Large

Caucus (4 PM) and Council Meetings (6 PM) are held in-person at Council Chambers, unless otherwise noted. A recording will be uploaded on the city's Jersey City TV You Tube channel within 24-48 hours of each meeting.

LIVESTREAM: All Municipal Council Caucuses and Meetings are streamed via Microsoft Teams. Public speakers must be present in person to speak at Council Meetings.

Caucus Meeting via Microsoft Teams Council Meeting via Microsoft Teams

Office of the City Clerk - Sean J. Gallagher, R.M.C.

Jersey City Online Permitting and Licensing Portal

Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authorities (JCMUA)

JC Housing , Economic Development & Commerce

2026 Holiday Calendar - City Office Closings

Please contact me with any questions or concerns.

Wendy S. Paul, MPA Executive Director

Jersey City Apartment Owners Association

344 Grove Street | Suite 189 | Jersey City, NJ 07302

tel: 551-430-0371 | wpaul@jcaoa.com

Mar 24, 2026

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